Anna Morton

Anna Livingston Reade Street Morton (May 18, 1846 – August 14, 1918) was the second wife of United States Vice President Levi P. Morton. She was known as Anna Street Morton.

Anna Morton
Second Lady of the United States
In role
March 4, 1889  March 4, 1893
Vice PresidentLevi P. Morton
Preceded byEliza Hendricks (1885)
Succeeded byLetitia Stevenson
First Lady of New York
In role
1895–1897
GovernorLevi P. Morton
Personal details
Born
Anna Livingston Reade Street

(1846-05-18)May 18, 1846
Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 14, 1918(1918-08-14) (aged 72)
Rhinecliff, New York, U.S.
Spouse(s)
(m. 1873)
RelationsRandall S. Street (grandfather)
Children6

Early life

Anna was born on May 18, 1846 in Poughkeepsie, New York. She was the daughter of William Ingram Street (d. 1863) and Susan Watts (née Kearney) Street (1819–1893).

Her paternal grandfather was Randall S. Street, a lawyer and member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Her uncle was Alfred Billings Street, a lawyer and prominent poet. Her maternal grandparents were Ann (née Reade) Kearney and Robert Kearney. Through her grandmother Ann (the daughter of Catherine Livingston and John Reade), she was a descendant of Robert Livingston the Elder, 1st Lord of Livingston Manor.

Anna was a student at Madame Richards school in New York City.

Career

After they married, her husband became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1879, serving until 1881 when he was appointed the United States Minister to France by President James A. Garfield in 1881. Morton was U.S. Minister until May 14, 1885 and Anna was noted for as a highly cultivated French scholar.

During her husband's term as Vice President of the United States under President Benjamin Harrison, she was Second Lady of the United States from 1889 to 1893 and often handled entertaining duties for the administration due to First Lady Caroline Harrison's illness and ultimate death. During this time, the Mortons lived on Scott Circle in Washington, DC and Mrs. Morton "became the leader of society in Washington, and there was never a more brilliant and popular leader than she. It was her innate graciousness, her innate tact, and her kindness of heart . . . which won her admiration and respect of all".[1]

After the Mortons left Washington, Levi became the Governor of New York and Anna served as the First Lady of New York from 1895 to 1897.

Personal life

In 1873, Anna was married to Levi Parsons Morton (1824–1920), just two years after the death of his first wife, Lucy Young Kimball, in 1871. Together, Anna and Levi had five daughters and a son together. A son, Lewis died at the age of four months in London, and daughters Lena and Alice predeceased their mother.

She died at her home, "Ellerslie" in Rhinebeck, New York, on August 14, 1918 at the age of 72.[10]

Philanthropy

In December 1904, the Mortons anonymously gave $600,000 to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. In January 1905, The New York Times revealed that the Mortons were the givers, including funds for the purchase of an organ in memory of their daughter Lena who died in Paris the June previous.[11]

References

  1. "U.S. Senate: Levi Parsons Morton, 22nd Vice President (1889-1893)". www.senate.gov. U.S. Senate. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  2. "Wm. Corcoran Eustis Dies. Former Diplomat was Captain on Gen. Pershing's staff". The New York Times. November 25, 1921.
  3. "W. C. Eustis Dies On New York Trip. Succumbs to Recurrence of Pneumonia He Contracted During War Service. Funeral Arrangements Incomplete. Was Long Prominent in National Capital Affairs. Family and Friends at Bedside. Funeral Plans Not Completed". The Washington Post. November 25, 1921. Capt. William Corcoran Eustis, of Washington, D. C., personal secretary to Gen. John J. Pershing during the war, died tonight following the recurrence of an attack of pneumonia contracted in France. He was 60 [sic] years old.
  4. "Mrs. Winthrop Rutherfurd". The New York Times. 21 June 1917. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  5. "ENGAGEMENT OF MISS ALICE MORTON.; To Marry Winthrop Rutherfurd, One of the Best-Known Men in Society, an Adept at Out-Door Sports, and Wealthy". The New York Times. 13 January 1902. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  6. Persico 2008, p. 138.
  7. "Artifacts of the Month -- June, 2017". www.rutherfurdhall.org. Rutherfurd Hall. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  8. "W. RUTHERFURD, 82, LEADER IN SOCIETY; Sportsman, Member of Noted Family, Dies Was Owner of Famous Terrier Kennels". The New York Times. 21 March 1944. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  9. "MISS MARY MORTON". The New York Times. 23 April 1932. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  10. "Mrs. Levi P. Morton Dies At Home in Rhinecliff, N.Y.", Boston Daily Globe, Thursday, August 15, 1918, Boston, Massachusetts, United States Of America.
  11. "LEVI P. MORTON GAVE $600,000 TO CATHEDRAL; Wife Shared in Anonymous Gift to St. John's. COL. ASTOR GAVE $100,000 Trustees Regard Donation as Marking an Epoch and Now Hope for Structure's Speedy Completion". The New York Times. January 11, 1905. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
Honorary titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Eliza Hendricks
Second Lady of the United States
1889–1893
Succeeded by
Letitia Stevenson
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